So bhakti means detachment. Vairāgya-vidyā-nija-bhakti-yoga (CC Madhya 6.254). Bhakti-yoga means detachment. Our suffering is due to our attachment. Because we are materially attached, I am desiring so many things materially. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa is giving me opportunity to enjoy that material facility. Whatever I want, whatever I desire... Of course, I must deserve. First deserve, then desire. Suppose if I want to become king. So I must have pious activities behind me so that I can become king. But Kṛṣṇa can fulfill. Whatever you want, Kṛṣṇa can give you. Kṛṣṇa can give you even mukti, liberation, the Māyāvādīs' mukti. But He does not give very easily bhakti. That He does not give. Kṛṣṇa can give you all material gifts, even up to mukti if you want. But when He gives bhakti, oh, that is special consideration. Because when He gives somebody bhakti, He becomes purchased by the bhakta. So therefore He considers, considers. Become... Kṛṣṇa becomes a tool in the hands of bhakta. Although He's so..., the supreme powerful. Just like Rādhārāṇī, the symbol of the topmost bhakti, Rādhārāṇī. So She has purchased Kṛṣṇa. She has purchased Kṛṣṇa, She's so powerful. Therefore Vaiṣṇavas, they take shelter of the lotus feet of Rādhārāṇī so that if She recommends, "Oh, here is a nice devotee," Kṛṣṇa has to accept.

"First of all become fit. First of all deserve. Then desire." Why foolishly you desire something for which you do not deserve? That is your fault.

Prabhupāda: Teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam (BG 10.10). When Kṛṣṇa sees that "He is worshiping Me with faith and reverence and love," then buddhi-yogam dadāmi tam. He'll give you intelligence. He is within you. Therefore I was saying, "First of all become fit. First of all deserve. Then desire." Why foolishly you desire something for which you do not deserve? That is your fault. That is misuse. Don't desire something without being deserving. So these are the process given how to think, how to meditate upon Kṛṣṇa. So practice it. Become qualified. Then you'll see everything.

Nobody is prepared to practice śamo damo titikṣa, but he wants the respect of a brāhmaṇa. This is the cause of India's culture being failure at the present moment. "First deserve, then desire." So without deserving, they desired.

So this is the way, brāhmaṇa. That brāhmaṇa, the India, the brāhmaṇas, their sons later on, later ages, taking advantage of the facility offered to the brāhmaṇas, so without qualification of brāhmaṇa, they wanted the facility for nothing, very cheap. Therefore the brahminical culture is failure now. They are... They should be real brāhmaṇas, śsamo damo. But nobody is prepared to practice śamo damo titikṣa, but he wants the respect of a brāhmaṇa. This is the cause of India's culture being failure at the present moment. They... "First deserve, then desire." So without deserving, they desired. Therefore whole thing is..., it became false. So that is not the purpose. Even somebody says that "Without culture one can remain a brāhmaṇa," but śāstra does not say that. Śāstra says culture is the first consideration.

General Lectures

"Everyone is God. I am God, you are God"—then he's dog. You show the power of God, then you say. First deserve, then desire.

Just like the modern scientists, they are trying to fly some space machine in the good speed so that they can go to the moon planet. So many scientists of America, Russia, and other countries, they are trying. But they cannot. Their sputnik is coming back. But just see God's power. Millions of planets are floating just like swabs. This is greatness. So any nonsense, if he says that "I am God," he's a rascal. God is great. You cannot compare yourself with God. There is no comparison. But the rascaldom is going on. "Everyone is God. I am God, you are God"—then he's dog. You show the power of God, then you say. First deserve, then desire. What power we have got? We're always dependent. So God is great, and we are dependent on God. Therefore natural conclusion is that we have to serve God. This is the whole comment.

Conversations and Morning Walks

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Kṛṣṇa's not so easy. First of all qualify. First deserve, then desire. First deserve, then desire.

Unless Kṛṣṇa gives opportunity, nobody can serve Kṛṣṇa also. But he gives opportunity to the proper person. That is everywhere. If you want to become manager of a firm, the proprietor of the firm will see whether you are able to do that. Then he will give the chance. "Yes." This is reciprocal. Just like this śloka we were studying today. Kṛṣṇa becomes sārathi. Does Kṛṣṇa go to become sārathi of a rascal and fool? He becomes sārathi of Arjuna. That has to be seen. And without any qualification: "Kṛṣṇa, become my sārathi." Kṛṣṇa's not so easy. First of all qualify. First deserve, then desire. First deserve, then desire. So how a Kṛṣṇa conscious person can be desireless? The first is desire. "I desire to serve Kṛṣṇa." That is the beginning. Then Kṛṣṇa will give you chance as you deserve.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

First deserve, then desire. Just like these rascals, "I desire to become God." That kind of desire will never be fulfilled.

Prabhupāda: As soon as I want a smaller car, not smaller car, I want bigger car, smaller car also. That is change. Whatever you deserve. You desire; at the same time, you deserve. First deserve, then desire. Just like these rascals, "I desire to become God." That kind of desire will never be fulfilled.

Yadubara: It's according to the qualification also.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Your position is very minute. So you can desire up to that limit, not that you can desire "I become complete, universal." That is the defect of the Māyāvāda. "Because I am equal... So 'ham. Because I am qualitatively one, therefore I am one in every respect." A drop of ocean water, if he desires, "I become ocean," that is not possible. But a drop of ocean water contains the same ingredients as the big Pacific Ocean. So in your quantitative proportion, if you desire, that is your perfection.

Brahmānanda: Understanding one's position.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

That's all right, he can desire. I already explained: first deserve, then desire.

Rāmeśvara: This is one of their main, the main ideas in their philosophy is that the living entity can desire to have any relationship he wants with Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: That's all right, he can desire. I already explained: first deserve, then desire.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa and Rāmeśvara: Deserve then desire, oh.

Prabhupāda: You are rascal, how you can desire? You have no qualification, you desire to high-court judge. What is this nonsense?

Rāmeśvara: But then they have an answer.

Prabhupāda: What is that answer?

Rāmeśvara: That "Let me just try it anyway, to keep my mind thinking..."

Prabhupāda: How you can try it? First of all, be qualified, a big lawyer. Then you become high-court judge. Where is that qualification? You are after illicit sex and biḍi and you want to be associated with the gopīs.

Rāmeśvara: They say that "In ISKCON, we do not..."

Prabhupāda: Let them say all nonsense. They are disqualified. Sahajiyā bābājīs, that's all.